Keir Starmer and John Swinney are set to engage in discussions in Edinburgh, with the spotlight on calls for increased investment in Scotland. The Labour Prime Minister and SNP First Minister will convene privately in the capital before joining other leaders for the Council of Nations and Regions summit. Participants will include the First Ministers of Wales and Northern Ireland, alongside metro mayors from English regions. Ahead of the meeting with the UK Labour leader, Swinney expressed his commitment to collaborate with the Prime Minister on addressing poverty, bolstering Scotland’s economy, and supporting public services.
Emphasising the significance of overcoming the challenges hindering the Scottish Government’s pursuit of a progressive agenda, Swinney stressed the crucial need for public sector investment to combat austerity and attract sustainable financial support for economic growth and the development of key sectors. The First Minister underlined the potential for transformative change through collaborative efforts aligned with devolution principles. Meanwhile, Glasgow’s SNP council leader criticised the UK Government for excluding her from the Council of Nations and Regions gathering, characterising the move as disregarding Scotland’s largest city.
Susan Aitken condemned the decision to exclude Scottish local authority leaders from the summit, highlighting the disparity in treatment compared to their English counterparts. The Scottish Labour camp responded by asserting the need for elected mayors in Scotland akin to the successful model in England’s metro regions, signalling a shift towards alignment on this issue between the parties. The discussions between Starmer and Swinney are poised to steer the narrative on investment priorities in Scotland, reflecting the broader dynamics shaping intergovernmental relations and the quest for inclusive governance.